A Study of Winter Branches 35 



the topmost buds almost always greatly outdo 

 their fellows. 



Besides latent buds, which " hang fire," so to 

 speak, and come forth only when they are sorely 

 needed, many trees can produce extra buds to 

 meet the want caused by some sudden misfortune. 



Some trees supply the place of a lost branch by 

 a group of new buds, which grow out at once 

 into vigorous sprays. And some trees, when their 

 heads get cut off, are so far from being killed 

 that the maimed trunks put forth new crowns of 

 long, strong shoots. A number of these, prob- 

 ably, came from buds made long ago, which have 

 awaited such a chance as this for years. But 

 many of them grow from " adventitious buds " 

 specially made to meet the needs of the occasion. 



Several familiar trees can produce such buds 

 in great numbers, when losses are to be retrieved 

 or damage repaired. 



The pasture haws, nibbled down by sheep, put 

 forth sturdy clusters of strong young shoots. And 

 when a willow is beheaded, or pollarded, long 

 rods spring out of its maimed trunk. 



On some sorts of willow these " withes," or 

 " osiers," are so strong and supple that they are 

 suitable for weaving into baskets and crates — 

 " willow ware." 



The cultivation of the basket willow, and the 

 weaving of it, began far back in history. 



The ancient Romans thought the willow was 



